Archive for the ‘Eat’ Category

Alcohol and seafood. Is there a better combination? Last summer when we were in Cancun, the resort we stayed at served seafood martinis as a late night bar snack. Sounds intriguing, right? Unfortunately, the ‘martini’ I received had zero alcohol and lots of brine. Consider me unimpressed.

Flash forward. We hosted a few friends for dinner recently, and the request was simple: seafood. Lots of it. The failed martini immediately came to mind, and I poked around the Internet searching for something similar (but better). The closest I came were these Seafood Dean martinis by Rachel Ray, but I wasn’t sold. So I went into the kitchen, added a few things here and there, and came up with this. If a Bloody Mary and ceviche engaged in some hardcore baby-making by the ocean, this is their love child. It’s super easy, super tasty, and looks cool. Enjoy! Read More

As frequent visitors of New York City, we always make a point to grab some xiaolongbao (Shanghai soup dumplings) whilst playing in the concrete jungle. When we heard there was a place that served the same in Philly, naturally, we had to check it out.

Located in an underpass nearby Reading Terminal Market, Dim Sum Garden is a small hole-in-the-wall conjuring up memories of Chinatown NYC (or really anywhere, for that matter). Set with small Ikea plastic tables and chairs (some of which have seen better days), the layout was open enough that you didn’t feel like you were dining with strangers, despite its size (a common occurrence in NYC).

Stepping back in time, Franklin Mortgage Investment Company is a Prohibition-era speakeasy tucked away amongst the bars and restaurants on 18th Street. It has received numerous accolades for serving up some of the best cocktails in the city, so we decided to investigate.

When I think about siphon brewed coffee, images of handlebar mustaches, skinny jeans, and plaid come to mind. Chinatown? Not so much. D and I desperately needed a place to recharge, and since Yelp does not lie…into this cozy establishment we went. Ray’s boasts an impressive line up of beans, including Jamaican Blue Mountain, Hawaiian Royal Kona, and a variety of blends. I selected the Japanese charcoal roast (sumiyaki) and spent the next 30 minutes in a state of caffeinated bliss. The cup and saucer! The chocolate/sprinkle dipped madeline cookie on a doily (sprinkles are key)! The eensy weensy cream pitcher! Here’s the best part…the cream remained untouched because the coffee was that smooth. At $7.50 a cup, I wouldn’t make this a daily habit, but for a pick-me-up experience it was worth every penny.

Not a java fiend? The bubble tea was perfectly creamy, the tapioca balls just the right amount of chewy. Hungry for more? The food at other tables smelled delectable, and I also hear it’s BYOB. Service is friendly and quick. Give this place a go.